Device for shaping sheet material



June 23, 1936. I 1 NEWMAN I 2,045,235

DEVICE FOR SHAPING SHEET MATERIAL Filed April 4, 1935 T2; I2 .7971 Z51 5v i in I, 3 o

Z T 24 455437 5 I I 79 l 32: 7 (/4 NVENTOR 77 ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 15 Claims;

This invention relates'to devices for shaping sheet material, and is particularly directed to a device for shaping the rim edge of an opening in sheet material, for example, the rim edge of a filling hole in a can.

Cans which are used for packing fluids, petroleum products, chemicals, edible oils or the like containers which have a filling hole have been provided with caps or sealing closures for said holes usually constructed to grip an upwardly ex tending flange at the hole and crimped, to said flange. It has been customary to pierce the can to permit the same to be emptied after which the empty can wasdiscarded. In thecase of larger or more expensive cans, it is desirable to refill and re-use the cans after the same have been emptied to eliminate the waste involved in discarding such cans. Instead of piercing the can, therefore, the cap may be removed or pulled off the flange at the filling hole in any suitable manner, for example, with the tool shown in my co-pending application for improvements in Devices for removing sealing closures, filed simultaneously with this application. Difliculty has been experienced,

however, in applying a new cap to the flange by reason of the fact that in removing the cap the flange or rim edge of the filling hole-becomes somewhat bent or misshapen. 7 It is, therefore, an

object of my invention to provide a device for straightening, reshapening or pressing out the rim edge or flange of the filling hole or opening in the can, to permit application of another sealing cap or closure thereto.

A further object of this invention is to provide a neat, compact and rugged device of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, comprise few and simple parts, be easy to assemble and manipulate, and which shall yet be positive in action and practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements,

and arrangement of parts which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In 'the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention, 1

Fig. 1 is an elevational, cross-sectional view of a device embodying theinvention mounted on a can and ready for use; v

Fig. 1a is a cross-sectional view of a portion of'a can having a cap thereon;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig.3 is an enlarged, detail view of the shaping 5 portion. of my improved device;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in rim pressing position;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of my improved device mounted on a can and ready for use; 10

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the parts in rim pressing position; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the bottom part of my improved device, with parts in cross-section and parts removed. 15

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I0 designates a can or container formed with a filling hole or opening I l in the top wall I la thereof and having arim edge l2 at said opening.

Where cans are provided with sealing closures 20 V or caps for the filling holes and it is desired to re-use or refill the can after the same is emptied, the cap may be pulled oif the flange formed at the filling hole in any suitable manner, for example, with a tool such as shown in my co-pending ap- 25 plication for improvements in Devices for removing sealing closures, filed simultaneously with this application. In such cases, it has been found that the flange is bent, out of shape, and does not present the proper upstanding and perfectlyannular 30 flange to receive a new cap. The flange also often gets out of shape while the can is being used'or shipped when new.

The can I0 is shown in the drawing for the purpose of illustration as being a square can 35 having vertical walls l5 and l6,.and the rim I2 may be assumed to be out of shape as a result of removing the first cap and using the can. Such rim comprises an annular somewhat raise-d horizontal portion IM and an upstanding flange 40 12b, on which the sealing cap lZa is crimped, as

shown in Fig. 111;.

The .device I 4 embodying the invention is for reshaping flange 12b and portion l2a to permit the flange to receive a new cap. Said device 45 comprises a plate 20 of substantially square shape but having a pair of opposite curved corners 2| and 22 and'a pair of opposite square corners 23 and 24. Said plate has a pair of adjacent side edges 25 and 26 disposed at right 59 angles to one another, the underside of said plate adjacent said edges being cut away, as at 25a and 26a, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Said plate 20 is formed with a central circular opening 30 and with an inwardly ex- 5.

tending angular flange 3| at the bottom of said opening. Attached to the side edges 25 and 26, as by screws, are a pair of walls 32 and 33 extending below the lower surface of the plate 20. The walls 32 and 33 terminate short of the curved corner 2! of the plate and extend beyond said slide edges 25 and 28. It will now be understood that the plate 29 may be mounted on top of a can and at the corner thereof which has the opening II, the walls 32 and 33 contacting the side walls l5 and i5 being received within the cut away portions 250, and 26a. on the underside of said plate 28.

Fixed to the upper side of the plate 20 and disposed concentrically of the opening 30 is a flat ring 35 having a central circular opening 36 and being formed at the lower end of said opening with a downwardly and inwardly extending flange 31 received within the opening 38 of the plate 29. Fixed to the upper surface of the ring 35 is a second ring 38 substantially of the same outer diameter and provided with a central opening 39. Said ring 38 has adjacent the upper surface thereof an inwardly extending annular flange 48. The rings 38 and 35 and the plate 29 may be fixed together by screws 4| or in any other suitable manner.

Slidably mounted within the opening 30 of the plate 29 is a ring 58 having an outwardly extending annular flange 5| disposed between the flanges 3| and 31. The ring 59 slides within the flange 3|; and the flange 5i limits the sliding movement of said ring. Said ring is provided on the upper surface thereof with a plurality of vertical openings 52 receiving pins 53 fixed within said openings and extending above the surface of said ring. The extending portions of said pins are slidably received within openings 54 formed in the flange 31 whereby said ring is maintained against rotary movement with respect to plate 20 and ring 35. Coil compression springs 55 disposed between the ring 59 and the flange 31 have the upper and lower ends thereof received in sockets 56a and 31m in said ring and flange and serve to normally move the ring away from said flange and the annular flange 5| toward the flange 3| of the plate 29.

When the device 14 is placed on the can, the portion I2a is contacted by the lower side of the ring 50, and the upwardly extending flange |2b is disposed within the said ring. It is the portions in and I2?) which usually get out of shape and which are ironed out or pressed into proper shape in the manner hereinafter described.

Means is provided for pressing said portions l2a and I2?) against the underside and inner surface of said ring. To this end there is rotatably and non-slidably mounted on the rings 35, 38, a tubular member 42 having a cylindrical portion 43 disposed within the openings 36, 39 and between the flanges 31 and 49/ Extending from the cylindrical portion 43 is an annular, inwardly extending wall 44 from which there extends upwardly a tubular portion 45 passing through the opening in the upper ring 38. The member 42 is thus rotatably and non-slidably mounted on the rings 38, 35 and plate 20. The tubular portion 45 is formed adjacent the upper end thereof and on the undersides thereof with a pair of short vertical slots 41, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Disposed within the member 42 is a member 58 having a tubular portion 59 disposed within the tubular portion 45 of said member 42 and a bottom wall 68 at the lower end of the tubular portion 59 and. having a central opening 6!. Extending from said bottom wall 60 is an outwardly extending flange 63 received within the cylindrical portion 43 of the member 42. At the underside of said flange 63 is a conical opening 64 communicating with the through opening 5| in the wall 60. The tubular portion 59 is formed adjacent the upper end thereof with a pair of opposite openings 66 registering with the slots 41 in the tubular portion 45. Received within said openings 86 and fixed to member 58 and extending through the slots 41 are the inwardly extending reduced ends 81 of a pair of aligned outwardly extending handles 68. It will now be understood that the member 58 has a limited sliding movement with respect to the member 42 and that rotation of the member 58 with respect to said member 42 is prevented by the handles 68.

Slidably extending through the opening BI is a stem 18 having a conical head 1! at the lower end thereof substantially of the same shape as conical opening 64 on the underside of member 58. Said stem 18 projects into the tubular portion 85 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The conical portion 1| is formed on opposite sides thereof with vertical, semi-cylindrical notches 13, and fixed to the underside of the flange 83 are a pair of pins 14 partially received within the notches 13 to prevent rotation of the stem 10 with respect to the member 58. Pivoted to the underside of said flange 63 are a pair of similar, symmetrically disposed, curved arms 18, pivoted on'vertical pins or studs 11 screwed to the underside of said flange 63 and lying generally within the ring 59.

Rotatably mounted at the curved outer ends 88 of the arms 18, as on pins 18 screwed to said arms, and contacting the underside of said arms, are ring like members or rollers 19 partially extending beyond the outer ends of said'arms. The inner sides of the arms 16 have bottom conical surfaces 82 contacting the conical surfaces of the portion or head 1|. Fixed to the arms 16 are downwardly extending pins 85a interconnected by a coil tension spring 860. which tends to draw the arms together and maintain said arms in contact with opposite sides of the head 1|.

Received on the upper end of the stem 19 is a tubular member 85 fixed to said stem by a transverse pin 86. Said tubular member 85 is formed adjacent the upper end thereof With multiple steep-pitched external threads 81. Screwed to the upper end of the tubular member 85 is a member 99 having an internal threaded surface receiving the threads 81, and being socketed on the undersurface thereof, as at 9!. A coil compression spring 92 received within the socketed portion 9|, is disposed about the tubular member 85 and between the upper end of the member 58 and the underside of the member 90. A washer 94 screwed to the upper end of the tubular member 85, as by screw 95, serves to limit the upward movement of the member 98 as the same is turned about the tubular member 85. A handle 98 is fixed to the member 99 and serves to turn said member on the tubular member 85.

The operation of the device will now be described. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the device I4 is placed on top of the can with the arms 16 and rollers 19 extending through the opening H and the member 98 contacting the washer 94 and the inner ends 81 of the handles the conditions of practical use.

68 being at the lower ends of the slots 41. The ring 50 is pressed by springs 56 into contact with the upper surface of portion I2a of the-rim I2. The flange 63 is somewhat spaced from the underside of wall 44 of member 42. The head II at the lower end of the stem III is disposed below the conical surface 64 and contacts the arms 16 as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, permitting the arms to be moved inwardly toward each other by the spring 86a.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing, the rollers I9 are disposed below the portion I2w of the rim I2 and inwardly thereof. Upon turning the handle 98 in a clockwise direction, looking at Fig. 2 of the drawing, (with handle 68 held against rotation), the member 90 engaging the threaded tubular member 85 moves down toward the upper end of the tubular portion 45 of member 42, compressing the spring 92; member 90 contacts said tubular portion 45, further rotation of the handle 98 causes the tubular member 85 and the stem 18 to be raised, the head 'II contacting the cammed or conical surface 82, spreading the arms I6 and moving the rollers I9 toward the rim I2. After the arms have been spread, further rotation of the handle 98 will cause the stem ID to lift the member 58 within the member 42, the inner ends 61 of the handles moving upwardly within the slots 41 and the flange 63 moving into contact with the wall 44 of said member 42. The outer ends 80 of the arms 16 thus move into contact with the flange I2b of the rim I2 and the rollers I9 move into contact with the portion I2w of said rim.

After the arms I6 and the rollers I9 are firmly pressed against the rim edge of the can opening, the handles 68 are rotated, the arms I6 rotating with the members 42 and 58 and pressing out or ironing out or shaping the portions I2a and lit) of the rim I2 all around the opening. The handles 68 may be given one or more revolutions until the rim is properly pressed into shape.

After the handles 68 are rotated for one or more revolutions and the flange 12b is properly shaped, the handle 98 may be rotated in counterclockwise direction to lower the stem I and permit the arms 16 to move inwardly under action of spring 86a. The spring 92 facilitates the countier-clockwise rotation of the handle 98. The weight of the member 58 and handles 68 will cause said member to be lowered whereby the rollers 19 move away from the portion I2a of the can. Thereafter the entire device I4 may be readily lifted off the can.

The tool I4, it will be noted, is constructed with side'plates to fit against the walls or corners of the can, and thus act as a guide for insertion of the tool into the filling hole of the can and for keeping the tool in place on the can during the straightening or reshapening operation.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment set forth, it is to be understood that all'matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to-be interpreted as illustrative and'not in a limiting sense. 9

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:-

1. A filling hole straightener for cans compris- After the ing a member adapted to be mounted on top of the can over the filling hole and having means engaging a sidewall of the-can for retaining the device on the" can, said device having. means adapted to project into the hole, means for moving said last mentioned means into engagement with the rim edge of the hole, and means for rotating said projecting means after the same has engagedsaid rim edge; I r r I 2. A device for shapingthe rim edge of an opening in asheet comprising a'member adapted to be placed on said sheet and'over said opening, said member having an opening concentric with the opening in said sheet, a second member'rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said first member, a third member rotatably mounted within said second member for-rotation therewith andhaving' limited sliding movement. with respect thereto, means on said first member adapted to engage one side" of the rim edge at the 20 opening in said sheet, and means on said third member extending through the opening in said sheet, movable into contact with an opposite side of said rim edge. 7 V 3. A device for shapin'g'a cylindrical flange at an opening in a flat-sheet, comprising means adapted to be placed on said sheet over said openingand engaging 'the outer surface of said flange, a member-mounted on said means and disposed axially of said opening, an arm pivoted to said member on an axis parallel to the axis of said member, and having means thereon for engaging the inner surface of said flange, and. means for causing pivotal movement. of said arm with respect to said member;

4. A device for shaping a cylindrical flange at an opening in a flat sheetpicomprising means adapted to be placed onsaid sheet'over said opening and engaging the outer surfaceof said flange, a member mounted on said means ancLdisp'osed axially of said opening, an arm pivoted to said member on an axis parallel to. the axis of said member, and having means thereon for engaging the inner surface of said'flange, means for causing pivotal movement of .said arm with respect to said member, and means for causing axial movementof said member. 1

5. A device for shaping a cylindrioalflange an opening in a fiat sheet, comprising means adapted to be placed on said sheet over said'opening and and havingmeans thereon for engaging the'inner 155 surface of said flange, means for causing pivotal movement of said arm with respectto said member, means for causing axial movement of said member, and means for rotating said member.

6; A filling hole straightening device for cans comprising a member adapted to be placed on the can and having an opening disposed above the filling hole of the can, a spring pressed ring mounted on said, member and adapted to, press against'the upper side of said rim edge of said hole, a tubular member rotatably and non-slidably mounted. on said member, a member mounted within said tubular member and having limited sliding movement with respect .thereto and being adapted to rotate therewith,

an arm pivoted to the underside of--said last member and having means'at the end thereof for pressing said 'riniedge against said ring, and

means for causing pivotal movement of said armtoimove saidrmeans into :rim engaging posi 'tion.

7. Adevice forshapingthe rimedge of an opening, 'comprising a mem'ber having an opening, a tubular :member frotatably and non-slidably 'mounted'on said member andhaving a longitudi- "nal slot, 1:, member disposed within-said tubular member, a handle having a portion extending through said slot and fixed-to said last mentioned membe'r, and means mounted on said ilast rmentioned memb'erformovement away from the :axis o'f -'-said member into engagement with said rim (edge.

'8. A device for shaping the rim edge of an "opening, comprising'a member having an opening, "a tubular member rotatably and non-slidfably'zmountednn'saidmember-and having a longitudimilrslotpa member-disposed within said'tubularmenrber, tarhandle having -a;-portion extending through said slot and fixed to said last men- -tioned member, means mounted on said last imentioncd member 'for movement away from the this not said member and :into engagement with said rim edge, said last mentioned member having a axial opening, and a stem extending through'said opening andhavinga head at the flower end thereof adaptedito engage said movably mounted member, "and means for causing 'a'xialrmovement of said stem.

"9. A device'for'shaping therim edge of an opening, comprising a member having an opening, a tubular member rotatably and non-slidably rmounted'on said member -and having a longitudimal slot, a member disposed-within said tubular member, a handlezhaving a .portion extending through said slot 'and rfixed to said last mentioned unember, means mounted on said last mentioned member for movement away fromthe axis of saidmember 'and into engagement with 'said'rim edge,said lastmentioned member having an axial opening, a stem extending through said openingand having ahead at the lower end thereof adapted to engage said movably mounted :member, :meansi'for causing axial movement of said stem, comprising 'a member fixed to said "stem'and'formedwithscrew threads, and means engaging said screw =threads and adapted to contact said tubular member.

10. :A "device :for straightening therim edge of a :filling hole in the top 'of 'a can comprising a member mounted onthe top-of said can and having'portions engaging the sides -of said can for retaining said member 'in position on said can, 'saidmember having an opening, a'ring mounted on said member, resilient means 'for pressing -said ring 'a'gainst the upper surface of the rim edge of the holein the-top of the can, a tubular -member mounted for rotation on said first member and being formed with a longitudinal slot, a member within said tubular member having an axial opening, a handle having a portion extending throughsaid slot and connected to said last mentioned member, a pair of arms pivoted to the underside of said last mentioned member and each having a. roller on the outer end thereof, a spring interconnecting said arms to pivot the rollers toward the axis 'of said last mentioned member, "a stem extending through said axial opening and having a conical head at the bot- 'tom end thereof and disposed between and engaging'said pivoted:arms, means'to prevent rotation of :saidistem 'with'respect .to said lastmentioned memben'a member flxed to said stem having external steep-pitched threads, and a memher having internal steep-pitched threads engaging said external threads.

11. A'device =for straightening the rim edge of a filling hole in the top of a can comprising a member mounted on the top of said can and having portions engaging the sides of said can for retaining said member in position on said can, said memberhaving an opening, a ring mounted -on said member, resilient means for pressing said ring against the upper surface of the rim edge of the hole in the top of the can, a tubular member mounted for rotation on said first member and being-formed witha longitudinal slot, a member within said tubular member having an axial opening, a handle having -a portion extending through said slot and connected to said last mentioned member, apair of arms pivoted to the underside of said last mentioned member and each havingza roller on the outer end thereof, a spring interconnecting said arms to pivot the rollers toward the axis of said last mentioned member,

a stem'extending through said axial opening and having a conical head at the bottom end thereof and disposed between and engaging said pivoted arms, means to prevent rotation of said stem with respect to said last mentioned member, a member fixed to said stem having external steep-pitched threads, a-member having internal steep-pitched threads engaging said external threads, and a handle thereon.

12. A device for-straightening a flange on a filling-hole-of a can comprisinga member mounted onthe can, means on said member engaging the outer surface of said flange, a tubular member rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said first member, a member within said tubular member adapted to rotate therewith and being formed with an axial opening, a stem slidably mounted within said axial opening and provided with a conical head at the bottom end thereof, means for moving said stem longitudinally with respect to said last mentioned member, said last mentioned memberhaving a conical opening at the bottom of said axial'opening adapted to receive the conical head on the stem, an arm pivoted to said last mentioned member and being adapted to engage the inner surface of said flange, and said arm having a part-conical surface adapted to be engaged by said head as said stem is moved axially Within the opening to causepivotal movement of said arm into engagement with said inner surface.

13. A device for straightening a flange on a filling hole of a can comprising a member mounted on the can, means on said member engaging the outer surface of said flange, a tubular member rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said first member, .a member within said tubularmember adaptedto rotate therewith and being formed with an axial opening, a stem slidably mounted within said axial opening and provided with a conical head at the bottom end thereof, means for moving said stem longitudinally with respect to said last mentioned member, said last mentioned member having a conical opening at the bottom of said axial opening adapted to receive the conical head on the stem, an arm pivoted to said last mentioned member and being adapted to engage the inner surface of said flange, said arm having a part-conical surface adapted to be engaged by said head as said stem is moved axially within the opening to cause pivotal movement of said arm into engagement with said inner surface, and means for causing simultaneous rotation of said tubular member and last mentioned member.

14. A straightener for the cylindrical flange of a filling hole in a can, comprising a member adapted to be placed on the can over the filling hole a spring pressed ring engaging the outer surface of the flange and having limited axial movement with respect to said member, a pivoted member for engaging the inner surface of said flange, and means for rotating the pivoted member bodily about the axis of said flange.

15. A straightener for the cylindrical flange of a filling hole in a can, comprising a part pivoted about an axis parallel to the axis of said flange and movable engagement with the inner surface of said flange, a non-rotating ring for engaging the outer surface of said flange, means for rotating said part about the axis of said flange, and means for moving said part about its axis toward the axis of said flange and out of contact with respect to said flange.

ISIDOR NEWMAN. 

